Relaxing travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises spa and resorts

“Tet”—the Vietnamese Lunar New Year—is an eagerly anticipated holiday that has been celebrated by Vietnamese for thousands of years. “Tet” for Vietnamese is as big as Christmas, if not bigger! It is a time of families and friends, warm wishes, and lavish spending. It is an occasion to celebrate the cultural heritage, pay homage to ancestors, and pray for peace, health, happiness, and prosperity. As we ring in the Year of the Pig, the Vietnamese American Youth Alliance (VAYA) is pleased to announce the second annual hosting of the Tet Festival in San Diego entitled “Spring of Hope”.

Continue reading Dances, songs and gaiety

Fo Guang Shan is situated in the suburbs of Kaoshiung. It is the largest Buddhist sanctuary in Kaoshiung County. Founded by Venerable Master Hsing Yun in 1967, Fo Guang Shan is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan. Besides the main shrine at Fo Guang Shan, its biggest attraction would be the Great Buddha Land, surrounded by 480 golden Buddha statues, a sight worth visiting. The Buddhist Cultural Museum has a collection of thousands of modern and ancient Buddhist works of arts. Buddhist works of art are invaluable skillful means for attracting people to Buddhism. Visiting this museum has helped many people to believe.

Continue reading Where are 480 golden Buddha’s statues? The answer is….

What a hotel!? Tree house set 13 meters above a Swedish public park, with rope ladder access only. That i say unusual place to stay! The idea, first conjured up by the artist Mikael Genberg seven years ago and it is said to be the smallest of its kind. It is designed for a cosy couple, and can hold no more than two or so people. If you want to visit that place the best time to do it is the summer. It’s open on April 1st of each year,but office is open for booking all seasons.

“The idea came to me in 1999. I had just finished working on a tree house hotel and was in the process of producing an underwater hotel when I saw an article in Expressen: ‘Now Sweden goes for the moon’. My idea was not realistic at all. But it kept coming back to me and by August 2003 I had made quite a few enquiries. Ever since then it has grown into far more than an artwork,” said the artist Mikael Genberg .

Continue reading One of the tallest unusual places for staying

Once the residence of Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal, Ananda is undoubtedly one of the best hotels in India and ranked in the Top 10 spa hotels of the world. The calming integration of lush greenery, fresh mountain air, Himalayan spring water, the luxurious therapy rooms overlooking the holy River Ganges and the mystifying Himalayas, together with unbeatable spa facilities provides the ideal environment for rejuvenation of the body, mind and soul. It is, however, not only for those who want to spend time doing little but being pampered – it is also the perfect base from which to go walking, bird watching, star-gazing, rafting, fishing or game viewing.
The 21,000 square foot spa offers an extensive menu of over 79 body and beauty treatments, integrating the traditional Indian systems of Ayurveda with the more contemporary Western spa approach. The spa experience strives to achieve the ultimate harmony between the physical and the mental realms of the individual.

Continue reading Ananda in the Himalayas is One of The Top 10 Spa Hotels of The World

The Conservatory of Flowers, built in 1878, is a gorgeous (and restored in 2003) example of the beautiful greenhouses that were constructed during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries to display exotic plants and flowers. This one is built in a dramatic Victorian style, and is one of the architectural highlights of the golden gate park. Golden Gate Park is over 3 miles long & 9 blocks wide, 1017 acres.

Continue reading Gardens have this tendency to remind of sex and rebirth

Amicalola Falls State Park is an 829-acre (3.35 km) Georgia state park located between Ellijay and Dahlonega. The park’s name is derived from a Cherokee language word meaning “tumbling waters”. Amicalola Falls is in Dawsonville located in Dawson County Georgia. Amicalola Falls State Park has four groups of trails within it, including the trail leading up to the top of the waterfall. There is a $3 parking fee and the falls can be seen from the parking area. For best viewing you need to climb 175 steps to the first landing which gives excellent views close up. If you want to walk to the top it is another 475 steps, or you can drive to the upper parking area. There are many places along the walk up to take various pictures from different angles. This falls is some 700+ feet tall and is breathe taking to see.

Continue reading One very lovely and picturesque waterfall

Argentina is mostly famous for its capital city, Buenos Aires, usually referred to as the Paris of South America, and for being the cradle of the sensuous Tango, one of the most admired dances in the world. Plaza de Mayo, a traditional square to protest and revolt, but also a place to get relaxed and get invited to Tango, classic dance in Argentina. It takes two to Tango, but this is no problem in Argentina. Locals will always find a partner. People here love to dress up and look good. And boy o boy, do the people here look phenomenal. The Tango will captivate you and help you with insight into the culture. Whether you already know how to Tango or have no idea what it is, there are excellent places to learn. It is a magical city. There are people in the streets dancing tango, people enjoy going out very late at night until the early hours of the AM, and there is always something to do. The people are very friendly, too.

Continue reading The tango in Argentina, the sentimentalist, trick and art

It’s a joyous riot of color,
abundant and flowing,
a corner of nature just barely tamed,
a paradise made to order by an Impressionist to please the eye
and provide endless motifs to paint.
Giverny is a small French village 80 km to the west of the capital city Paris, within the valley of the river Seine and the northern region of Haute-Normandie. The village is best known as the rural retreat of the Impressionist painter Claude Monet. French impressionist Claude Monet (1840–1926) developed his garden in the Parisian village of Giverny, covering his extensive grounds with brilliant flowers and profuse greenery.

Continue reading Claude Monet’s Garden in Giverny, Paris

This is a much more than just a hotel! The HPAM is a hotel made from the stuff that dreams are made of: talent, inventiveness, madness, sanity- a real dream come true. HPAM is a hotel where creativity and freedom go hand in hand- a veritable hompage to frredom. The HPAM is a hotel created with affection, with everything in it so interesting and stimulating, an authentic luxury.

Continue reading Puerta America – much more than just a hotel

Entering its second year as the #1 public golf course in Maine according to Golfweek Magazine and having just been listed as the only New England course on Golf Digest’s Best New Public Over $75 top 10 list, the highly acclaimed Sunday River Golf Club opened all 18 holes on Saturday.

World-renowned course architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr, designed Sunday River Golf Club, located next to Sunday River Ski Resort. In addition to the accolades from Golfweek and Golf Digest, Golfstyles New England named the Sunday River Golf Club their Public Course of the Year for 2007.

Early season greens fees including cart are currently at $79 per person and both the driving range and practice green are open. Stay and play packages through Memorial Day weekend start at $89 per person per night including lodging and a round of golf with cart.

Continue reading Sunday River Golf Club Opens for the 2007 Season as New England’s Only Course on Golf Digest’s Best New Course Listing